Quantity with Quality
The Biology of a Female Christian Rap Star
The key lies in her soul
This is my next story in a series of articles responding to Dr Mehmet Yildiz’s challenge to produce a short quality article with three take home points each day for thirty days.
I have chosen to use Wikipedia’s main page as inspiration, choosing one topic from their “Did You Know” section as topical encouragement.
Known professionally as Wande, Yewande Isola is a Nigerian American hip hop artist performing under the Christian hip hop label Reach Records.
Born in Nigeria and raised in Texas, Wande converted to Christianity amidst opposition from her family.
Wande’s interest in rap and hip-hop performance is said to have stemmed from a biology assignment where her professor allowed her to present a rap on cellular transport rather than a written essay or standard verbal presentation.
Wande graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with majors in both public relations and journalism. She was a member of the National Association of Black Journalists, Alpha Kappa Alpha and Sigma Phi Lambda sororities as well as rapping at U of T campus events as a way of ministering through music.
While still in college, Wande released her first single and performed multiple years at Austin’s South by Southwest festival. She also began an internship at Reach Records, and shortly before graduating accepted a job as administrator for the label’s talent scouting and commercial development (called A&R in the industry).
One year later, Wande signed on as the label’s first female artist.
What We Can Learn from Wande
Wande is resolute in her Christian faith and from that conviction she has achieved remarkable success. In spite of not having a family support network (at least around her personal religious ideals) she has remained true to her personal beliefs.
While most of us would consider a double major from a well-regarded university as laudable in itself, Wande also concurrently created, performed and published music as well as being involved in extra-curricular affiliations and interning in her chosen career path.
Wande would appear to have many doors open before her in terms of music performance, production, sales marketing and public relations. It is pretty clear that her path was formed through fantastic self-motivation and lots of hard work.
Take home points:
- Stay firm in your personal convictions. It’s clear that Wande’s dedication to her religious philosophies has guided her success.
- There are still a lot of “firsts” yet to be obtained. There are always new opportunities and goals to achieve.
- Spending time chasing your passions can pay off significantly. It is pretty clear that Wande’s internship at Reach opened several opportune pathways for her.
You don’t need me to spell out the many inferences in this story.
Work hard; create your own luck.
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Timothy Key spent over 26 years in the fire service as a firefighter/paramedic and various fire chief management roles. He firmly believes that bad managers destroy more than companies, and good managers create a passion that is contagious. Compassion, grace and gratitude drive the world; or at least they should. Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, and join the mail list.
